Ann Arbor — Michigan hockey fans received some good news Monday with star defenseman Jon Merrill telling head coach Red Berenson he was returning for his junior year.

Merrill, a second-round pick by New Jersey in 2010, participated in the Devils' prospect camp this summer.

"Johnny talked with me this morning and indicated he'll be coming back," Berenson said Monday. "He definitely had some dialogue with New Jersey. Jon realized he only played half of the season and he wants to be ready when he makes the move. He wants to be competing for an NHL job when he does. He doesn't want to be playing in the minors. I think it's the right thing for him."

NJ's glut of D makes this a pretty easy decision for him. Although saying he doesn't want to play in the minors is a slight red flag to me. I doubt he goes straight to the NHL from college with the way this team is constituted.

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“They’re the ones that makes it happen,” Lemaire said. “It’s not us. It’s not me. It’s not the other guy. It’s not the guy before. It’s not the guy after. It’s them. And they have to take care of business.”
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"I guess I just miss my friend" (#28)

In terms of on ice competition, I was hoping to see him go to Albany. Hopefully another year of maturing off the ice and playing a full college season this go around will help prepare him for the move to the pro's after this year. Its nice that the Devils can afford to have him take his time.

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RIP Pat Burns -- RIP Alexander Vasyunov and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Winner of the 2008 Sergei Brylin Award for Most Underrated Poster
Co-Winner of the 2011 Scott Bertoli Award for Best Minor League Poster, Winner of the 2012 Scott Bertoli Award

In terms of ice time this is a much better move. He was likely stuck on the third pair in Albany without much special teams. In a year when a defensmen will be traded and one of the guys in Albany will be in New Jersey, it will be better to turn pro.

I don't think this is better for his development. Corey Pronman made the point on Twitter - if he's dominating the NCAA like everyone claims he is, he's not learning anything by going back, and it's not like Michigan has a great track record for developing defensemen. However, if Adam Larsson is eligible to play in Albany, something I've been too lazy to look up, that would mean Merrill would start the season 5th on the depth chart probably - not ideal.

I'm sorry for being a little green in the college hockey knowledge but if he is dominating on a college level would it not make more sense to play in a minor league environment to prove he is ready for that next step? I just can't see with the depth we have him stepping into the NHL next year, or does it have to do with getting his full education, then play until you graduate, would that not make better sense? But to say he wants to go from college to NHL level? Is he that good?
Let's Go Devils!!!!!

I don't think this is better for his development. Corey Pronman made the point on Twitter - if he's dominating the NCAA like everyone claims he is, he's not learning anything by going back, and it's not like Michigan has a great track record for developing defensemen. However, if Adam Larsson is eligible to play in Albany, something I've been too lazy to look up, that would mean Merrill would start the season 5th on the depth chart probably - not ideal.

I think the argument could be that this is better for.his development in terms of his personality.It will be a good season for him if he can get through a whole year whilst producing, without any off ice incidents.

I don't think this is better for his development. Corey Pronman made the point on Twitter - if he's dominating the NCAA like everyone claims he is, he's not learning anything by going back, and it's not like Michigan has a great track record for developing defensemen. However, if Adam Larsson is eligible to play in Albany, something I've been too lazy to look up, that would mean Merrill would start the season 5th on the depth chart probably - not ideal.

adam larsson in albany would make me so incredibly angry. i mean, if he plays his way there after say, 20 games in the nhl, fine. but if the devils defensive situation puts him there because of salvador, i'll be furious.

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“They’re the ones that makes it happen,” Lemaire said. “It’s not us. It’s not me. It’s not the other guy. It’s not the guy before. It’s not the guy after. It’s them. And they have to take care of business.”
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"I guess I just miss my friend" (#28)

adam larsson in albany would make me so incredibly angry. i mean, if he plays his way there after say, 20 games in the nhl, fine. but if the devils defensive situation puts him there because of salvador, i'll be furious.

I think Tri's more worried about a lockout, especially since Lou said Larsson would play for the Devils this year. I don't want Larsson sitting on his butt during a lockout if it can be helped though.

Edited by NJDevs4978, 30 July 2012 - 07:02 PM.

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"The Devils have high standards, that's the difference. We have a standard to live up to every year, and a couple of teams in our area don't have the standards we do." - Pat Burns

The New Jersey Devils win Stanley Cups everywhere:-NHL record for most road wins in the playoffs - 10-1 in '95 and 10-2 in '00-NHL record for most home wins in the playoffs - 12-1 in '03

Good for him. A full year dominating and refining his talent will def help his confidence down the road. He needs a full year of doing so. No chance at the nhl and he would've gotten very limited mins in Albany.

I think Tri's more worried about a lockout, especially since Lou said Larsson would play for the Devils this year. I don't want Larsson sitting on his butt during a lockout if it can be helped though.

He'd play in Sweden if he wasn't playing in Albany. But yes, I would obviously be talking about a lockout situation, because otherwise Larsson is eligible to play in the AHL.

I think the argument could be that this is better for.his development in terms of his personality.It will be a good season for him if he can get through a whole year whilst producing, without any off ice incidents.

It's pretty much a given that Michigan's increased drug testing is what got him - he was likely smoking marijuana. I don't consider that 'off-ice' incidents, although I suppose it's not something a professional athlete should be doing.

He'd play in Sweden if he wasn't playing in Albany. But yes, I would obviously be talking about a lockout situation, because otherwise Larsson is eligible to play in the AHL.

It's pretty much a given that Michigan's increased drug testing is what got him - he was likely smoking marijuana. I don't consider that 'off-ice' incidents, although I suppose it's not something a professional athlete should be doing.

Smoking weed is something that I'd bet half of the league does. Addiction to pain killers is a whole other story. I doubt it was just for marijuana because this type of thing would definitely be more common. I still think it was for academic reasons

Smoking weed is something that I'd bet half of the league does. Addiction to pain killers is a whole other story. I doubt it was just for marijuana because this type of thing would definitely be more common. I still think it was for academic reasons

I read about Michigan athletes in all sports being dinged for it - they increased testing at Michigan. I don't think it's for academic reasons at all - why would he be suspended twice for that, and once in the off-season? As I recall, Merrill's suspension was announced in late August.

EDIT: It was announced in October, but still, doesn't make sense given the way that Merrill spoke about it

I figured Lou wouldn't push anything with him this year because of the CBA and the plethora of d this team has currently. In the next CBA entry deal could be five years. No need to waste a year here. Especially when there is a good chance you lock him for five years next year on the entry level contract.